Tuesday, September 11, 2018

In Seattle, Scrub-Jays Are Here to Stay
Steller’s Jays are most numerous in coniferous forests, like those
stretching across the Pacific Northwest. But now there’s a whole new jay
on the block. The California Scrub-Jay. As weather and climate patterns
change and development spreads, birds everywhere are on the move.
California Scrub-Jays, formerly known as Western Scrub-Jays, are moving
steadily north, up the Pacific coast of North America. And they’ve made
it to Seattle. The Pacific Northwest is known for being hospitable to
corvids. These are the crow- and jay-like birds. There are ravens,
crows, Canada Jays, Clark’s Nutcrackers... And now, California
Scrub-Jays. Like most corvids, California Scrub-Jays are an “edge
species,” thriving at the boundaries between habitats. Humans create
lots of edges and boundaries. It’s thought that, as development
increases throughout the region, these crafty jays are increasing, too.
Jason Saul writes. (BirdNote)

Studies show challenges for eelgrass restoration
As critically important eelgrass declines in some parts of Puget Sound,
scientists are trying to plant more of it. The health of the ecosystem
may be riding on their efforts, but what they are finding is something
that farmers have known for thousands of years: Getting something to
grow may be harder than you think. Chris Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea
Currents)

Trump Administration Wants to Make It Easier to Release Methane Into Air
The Trump administration, taking its third major step this year to roll
back federal efforts to fight climate change, is preparing to make it
significantly easier for energy companies to release methane into the
atmosphere. Methane, which is among the most powerful greenhouse gases,
routinely leaks from oil and gas wells, and energy companies have long
said that the rules requiring them to test for emissions were costly and
burdensome. The Environmental Protection Agency, perhaps as soon as
this week, plans to make public a proposal to weaken an Obama-era
requirement that companies monitor and repair methane leaks, according
to documents reviewed by The New York Times. In a related move, the
Interior Department is also expected in coming days to release its final
version of a draft rule, proposed in February, that essentially repeals
a restriction on the intentional venting and “flaring,” or burning, of
methane from drilling operations. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

Closing a highway to save salmon
Swauk Creek runs through the dry dirt and the fir and pine trees of the
Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest. Right now, it’s no more than a few
inches deep and perhaps five to six feet across. Chinook, coho and
steelhead used to migrate up the Columbia River, through the Yakima
River, and into this creek. But, today, it has only a fraction of its
historic fish runs. That’s in part because, when crews built Highway 97
across the state, they tried to straighten out the creek and force it
through narrow pipes every time it crossed the road.... On Sunday night
at 9 p.m., the Washington State Department of Transportation closed
Blewett Pass for five days to replace those fish-blocking pipes with a
fish-friendly concrete box. The construction will cost taxpayers $1.2
million, although that’s nowhere near the full cost of the project.
Washington state is on the hook for hundreds of projects like this, ever
since, this spring, the Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling
mandating the removal of fish barriers throughout the state. Washington
estimates the total cost of complying with the ruling will be more than
$2 billion. Eilis O'Neill reports. (KUOW)

Native American Tribes File Lawsuit Seeking To Invalidate Keystone XL Pipeline Permit
In a new bid to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, two Native American
tribes are suing the Trump administration, saying it failed to adhere to
historical treaty boundaries and circumvented environmental impact
analysis. As a result, they are asking a federal judge in Montana to
rescind the 2017 permit and block any further construction or use of the
controversial pipeline. The Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana
and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, contend there was no effort
to study how the 1,200-mile pipeline project through their respective
territories would affect their water systems and sacred lands. Vanessa
Romo reports. (NPR)

State to purchase land adjacent to Blanchard forest
The state Department of Natural Resources is set to purchase 76 acres of
forest land adjacent to the Blanchard State Forest in northwest Skagit
County. Those 76 acres will be purchased from two private property
owners as part of an ongoing effort to preserve popular recreation areas
on Blanchard Mountain while maintaining timber harvest revenue, Natural
Resources spokesman Bob Redling said. Natural Resources will pay
$728,000 for the land, which includes the road used to access the state
forest for logging and recreation from Barrel Springs Road. The state
agency, Skagit County and a variety of recreation and conservation
interest groups have been working for years to eliminating logging in
1,600 acres of what’s known as the recreational core of Blanchard State
Forest. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

High Number Of Seabird Chicks Washing Up On Oregon Beaches
Unusually high numbers of dead and dying baby seabirds have been washing
up on Oregon beaches this summer, alarming some scientists and rescue
groups. Just last week, Newport’s Oregon Coast Aquarium received three
starving common murre chicks, bringing its total to 31 this year. That
compares with just one in each of the past two years. And West Coast
rescue organizations from Alaska to California are reporting receiving
hundreds more of the chicks, which look like baby penguins. Tracy Loew
reports. (Statesman Journal)

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Salish Sea Communications provides communications and public relations services that raise visibility and engage audiences. Drawing on over 30 years experience in private, public and not-for-profit work, Mike Sato brings to you his skills and insights in developing and carrying out your print, electronic and social media projects and products. "I've been in the communications business since 1977 starting with community weekly newspapers then working for Seattle City Light, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Hawaiian Electric Company and, for 20 years, People For Puget Sound." Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told. WA State UBI #601395482